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THE RAJPUT PRES&, 



CHICAGO, 




COPYRIGHT 

THEIRAJPUT^PRESS 

1911 


/.^re 

©CI.A3508G5 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


IN SCHOOL 1 

THE GOLDEN BALL 5 

THE GODDESS OF SPRING 11 

THE GLORIOUS DREAM 17 

MR. AND MRS. GOBBLER 23 

THE INVISIBLE SANTA CLAUS 27 

^^ SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN 31 





IN SCHOOL 
















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IN SCHOOL 

Jamie saw a firefly on a violet. He picked the 
violet and put it in a bottle. 

That night, when he went to bed, he took the bottle 
with him. He watched the light of the firefly a long 
time. It made him go to sleep. Then, somehow, 
he was in the bottle with the violet and the firefly. 

‘‘How are you, Jamief ’’ nodded the violet. 

“I knew you would join us,’’ hummed the firefly. 

“Isn’t this funny to be inside a bottle!” ex- 
claimed Jamie. “Why, I’m not any bigger than 
either of you ! ’ ’ 

“I think it’s fine,” said the firefly. “It’s just 
like being in a crystal palace.” 

“But how can we play?” asked Jamie. 

“Oh,” smiled the violet, “we can play school.” 

“No,” gurgled the bottle, “I don’t want to. I’m 
only in the mineral kindergarten so I’m not as smart 
as you. ’ ’ 

“What’s he talking about?” laughed Jamie. 


1 


IN A NUTSHELL 


^‘What! donT you remember when you were like 
us ? How strange ! But I will tell you if you wish. ’ * 
‘ ‘ Oh, please do I ^ ^ urged J amie. ♦ 

‘‘Well,^^ began Miss Violet, ‘‘Mr. Bottle is in the 
mineral kindergarten, I am in the vegetable kinder- 
garten, Mr. Firefly is in the animal kindergarten 
and you are in the human kindergarten. That 
makes four grades with you at the top.’’ 

“Oh,” chuckled Jamie, “isn’t that queer!” 
“Well, it’s true. This bottle isn’t supposed to be 
alive, but we know it is. After it gets through being 
a bottle and lots of other things it is old enough to 
graduate from the first grade. Then it enters the 
second grade where I am.” 

“Now,” continued Miss Violet, “I was a tiny seed 
way down in the dark damp earth. Do you think I 
wanted to stay there and never see sunshine? Not 
much. I went to work and sprouted. Up I shot, 
right to the surface of the ground. Then I made 
leaves for myself. After I looked round the world 
awhile and saw the sunshine and the blue sky, I 
thought I’d like to make a flower just as blue as the 
sky. So I did and here I am ! Don’t you think I’m 
lovely? That’s what we learn to do in the vegeta- 
ble kindergarten. Mr. Bottle will make himself into 
a violet, too, some day.” 

“Yes,” interrupted Mr. Firefly, “when Miss 


2 


IN SCHOOL 


Violet is old enough to graduate from the second 
grade she will enter the animal kindergarten. 
That’s the third grade. I’m in the third grade,” 
bragged Mr. Firefly, ‘^because I’ve learned to be a 
bug. I can think, too. When I first got my thinker 
going I said: ‘You don’t want to be just a com- 
mon little bug. You want to do good in the world.’ 
So I thought and thought and thought till I got an 
idea. It was to make a bright light. I made the 
light. Now the flowers smile at me, and little boys 
and girls run to catch me. When I want to hide I 
put out my light. Then they cannot find me. Don’t 
you think I’m smart? By and by, after I’ve been a 
lot of things like bigger bugs, I can grow into butter- 
flies and birds and the like, then, after a long, long 
time, become a fairy. But I’ve made up my mind 
not to do that. Instead, I’m going to grow into an 
animal ; possibly a cat, or a dog, or a cow, or a horse. 
I get smarter all the time. Then, when I’m so smart 
I cannot stand it any longer, I graduate from my 
animal kindergarten into your school, Jamie, which 
is the fourth grade. Now what do think of that? 
I become human just like you. Perhaps a little boy, 
who knows! Isn’t that wonderful?” 

“Yes,” agreed Jamie, “but what am I growing 
into all this time?” 


3 


IN A NUTSHELL 


chimed Mr. Bottle, Miss Violet and Mr. 
Firefly, ‘‘you grow more and more beautiful. You 
get old, die, then rest awhile. By and by you come 
back on earth a baby again. Then you grow old and 
die like you did before. Oh, you keep dying and 
dying and being born and being born lots of times. 
Only, Jamie, each time you are born you are more 
beautiful than ever before. Yes, you are not only 
more beautiful but stronger and nobler of character. 
At last you are so grand — what do you think hap- 
pens? Why, you become a glorious angel who can 
do anything and go anywhere. ThaUs what you^re 
going to be if you try to be a good little boy. Now, 
isn’t this a wonderful world?” 

“Well it sure is I” gasped Jamie. 


4 


THE GOLDEN BALL 




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THE GOLDEN BALL 


“Jamie, do you know what is meant by the saying, 
'Shun evil companions’?^’ 

“Oh, yes, mother. It means not to go with bad 
boys. ’ ’ 

“No, sonny, it doesn’t mean that at all,” returned 
mother. “Your closest companions are your 
thoughts. It means, 'Shun evil thoughts.’ ” 

“Oh!” exclaimed Jamie; then after awhile, 
“Mother, what does 'shun’ mean!” 

“Shun,” explained mother, “means to keep away 
from. When a bad, wicked thought pops into your 
head, you say: 'What right have you in my clean, 
young body? Get right out! Don’t you know I’m 
a child of God?’ Begin right off to think of some 
one you love. Then you will be making beautiful 
thought forms. And Jamie, these thought forms 
live just as long as you keep feeling and thinking 
them, and they grow big and strong near you until 
they become your companions. For instance, if you 
love your mother and father and all your little play- 
mates you keep feeling love, which makes you think 
love. Each of these thoughts grows into a beautiful 


5 


IN A NUTSHELL 


form. This form lives in the air about you. It has 
a pretty color, too. Every time you feel love for 
anyone or kindness toward anything this little com- 
panion gets still more powerful. But if you do not 
feel love in your heart, you forget to be kind and 
the unseen companion dies. It lives by your loving 
thoughts only. It is just the same with bad 
thoughts. When they pop into your head, donT 
think them again; shut them out — quick! Then 
they go to pieces. Now do you understand why 
thoughts are your real companions? DonT you 
see they are with you always, — even more than 
playmates?^’ 

believe I do,^^ replied Jamie. 

His mother left him in the library cuddled in a 
big leather chair. 

Jamie wondered and wondered about what his 
mother had just told him. All at once he saw a 
most remarkable sight. 

Standing right in front of him was the ugliest 
little creature he had ever seen. It was of a dark, 
muddy color, and had no head; its body was small 
and flat but with long arms and legs dangling out 
of it. Oh, the longest arms and the longest legs 
you ever could imagine I The queer little hands on 
the long, long arms pulled Jamie ^s hair, pinched his 
nose and yanked at his clothes. 


6 


THE GOLDEN BALL 


‘‘Ha, ha, ha!^^ it shrieked. “Ha, ha, ha! donT 
you know me I Why, I’m the thought you made 
when you pulled your kitty’s tail. You pulled it so 
hard that the kitty cried, but you didn’t care, you 
just laughed and kept pulling. Ha, ha, ha! that 
made my arms grow long.” And the creature 
pinched Jamie’s nose just awful hard. “Then, in 
school, you pulled Dorothy’s braids and Susie’s 
curls until they told the teacher. That made my 
arms still longer and stronger!” And he pulled 
Jamie’s nose again. “Yes, and you didn’t come 
straight home from school; you ran away. Oh, 
how that made my legs grow! Why, just look at 
’em — look at ’em ! They can walk everywhere, just 
like my arms can reach anywhere.” 

‘ ‘ Get out of my way ! ’ ’ hissed, what Jamie thought, 
a streak of red lightning. 

“ Oh ! ” quivered the terrified Jamie. 

“Yes, oh!” mimicked this streak of red lightning, 
twisting itself upside down, down side up, in and 
out and round about so swiftly that it made a 
whizzing sound that caused Jamie’s hair to stand 
on end in very fright. 

“Oh, ho! so you don’t like me. Master Jamie!” 
it whizzed. “What did you make me for then! I 
belong to you. Yes I do — ^yes I do! Don’t you re- 
member how angry you were a little while ago ! Oh, 


7 


IN A NUTSHELL 


— but you were angry ! You stamped your foot and 
cried: ‘I won’t, I won’t, I won’t!’ I’m that angry 
thought. Every time you cried ^ I won ’t ! ’ you made 
me redder and redder and redder. ’ ’ Ziz-ziz-ziz, and 
to Jamie’s surprise, the thing turned over and faded 
away. 

Then he remembered what his mother had told 
him about making these evil companions. So right 
then and there he decided to try and make only 
beautiful thought companions. 

He sat very still in the big leather chair and 
thought what a fortunate little boy he was with 
his dear mother and father and his comfortable 
home; his schoolmates and his kind teacher. But, 
after a little, his thoughts returned to his mother — 
his sweet, precious mother. Oh, how he loved her ! 

Suddenly, Jamie sat bolt upright, for he saw the 
most marvelous little form ! Why, it came right out 
of his head, he was sure ! It was a shining, sparkling, 
golden ball with the loveliest rose colored wings! 
Yes, beautiful, tiny rose-pink wings. As he watched 
it, it occurred to him that this golden ball must be 
the thought form he had just made from his love for 
his dear mother. That was it. But look! it was 
going right out of the library into the next room. 

Jamie sprang from his chair, and running to his 
mother, cried: 


8 


THE GOLDEN BALL 


Mother, oh mother, do you see it? Do you see 
it?^’ 

‘‘See what, my boy?^’ 

“Why, the golden ball just over your head! Oh, 
it^s gone, mother — it’s gone!” 

“Never mind, my son, even if I did not see it,” — 
taking him in her arms, — “mother felt it sink right 
into herTieart. And that is almost like seeing it, — 
don’t you think so?” 


9 





THE GODDESS OF SPRING 










THE GODDESS OF SPRING 


am Eostra, goddess of Spring/’ announced 
little Miss Helen^ as she seated herself on the roof 
of the summer-house. ‘‘This stick is my wand, this 
summer-house is my throne and you, Jamie, with 
Eover and Bounce, are my subjects.” 

“Oh,” ejaculated the delighted Jamie, looking up 
at her in wide-eyed admiration immensely flattered 
that the beautiful Helen, who was four whole years 
older, should wish to play with him, especially on 
this Easter morning. “Oh,” he repeated, knowing 
how the big boys would envy him. 

“Yes,” continued Miss Helen, spreading out the 
lacy flounces of her Easter finery, “as my subject 
you cannot come up here, ‘approach the throne,’ as 
they say in books. No, you must stay on the ground 
and worship me.” 

But how do I worship you?” ventured Jamie, 
somewhat crestfallen. 

“Fall on your knees,” commanded Miss Helen, 
with a wave of her wand. “Rover, Rover, sit up! 
That’s right. Bounce, here Bounce — ” But the dis- 
obedient Bounce bounded off quite unceremoniously. 


11 


IN A NUTSHELL 


‘‘Now/’ resumed the little lady, “when I wave my 
wand you bow to the ground, but while I am speak- 
ing you may remain on your knees. ’ ’ 

“All right,” agreed Jamie. 

“But perhaps you do not know about Eostra, 
goddess of Spring?” suggested Helen. 

“No,” came from the ground. 

“Well, a long, long time ago, oh, so long ago that 
it was before our Jesus came on earth, the people 
used to celebrate the coming of Spring. When the 
trees began to bud, and the flowers, which had been 
sleeping all winter, broke through the soft earth, and 
the cold wind grew warm with raindrops, and the 
birds returned to their summer nests, the people 
would say: 

“ ‘Eostra, goddess of Spring, is here. Come, we 
will celebrate in her honor.’ ” 

“Then all the people would stop work and join in 
the weaving of flower wreaths and long garlands 
with which to crown themselves and decorate their 
cities. After all was made ready the celebration 
began with wonderful music and dancing and sing- 
ing, the people joining in one grand song of joy 
that the goddess of Spring had awakened the Earth 
Mother from the long winter’s sleep.” 

“Where did you learn all that?” asked Jamie. 

“From the books in our library,” confided Helen. 


12 


THE GODDESS OF SPRING 


^‘And I tell it just like the books, too. You see, I 
have read it so many times I can remember.’’ 

“Do you know any more?” questioned the de- 
voted Jamie, still on his knees. 

“Yes, I know lots more. Be still and I will tell 
you,” admonished the goddess from her throne. 

“But my feet have gone to sleep. Won’t you let 
me sit cross-legged?” begged her humble subject. 

“Very well. Now listen.” And Miss Helen 
bobbed her queenly head, waved her wand and pro- 
ceeded with her story. 

“A long time after this, at the supposed age of 
thirty years, the Master Jesus came among the peo- 
ple to teach them. His teachings are called a re- 
ligion, and His religion is named Christian. After 
three years of teaching, Jesus, who was an Oriental 
Jew, was killed by His own people. His body was 
laid in a sepulchre or tomb. Nowadays when people 
die, their friends send gifts of flowers, but in Jesus’ 
time the gifts were of spices and ointments. So a 
few of Jesus’ followers, wishing to make this gift of 
spices and ointments, went, early in the morning of 
the third day after His death, to the tomb. To their 
amazement they found the stone rolled away and the 
body of Jesus gone! But the books say that two 
men in shining garments stood by and told them 


13 


IN A NUTSHELL 


not to be afraid for Jesus bad but risen from the 
dead and gone to His Father in heaven.^’ 
know all that/’ interrupted Jamie. 

Years passed,” continued Miss Helen, ignoring 
Master Jamie’s remark. and by the people 

grew tired of the simple teachings of Jesus, and de- 
cided to set a day on which they could celebrate His 
ascent into heaven. So they borrowed the word 
‘E-o-s-t-r-a’ and made it E-a-s-t-e-r. But they could 
not decide about this day. The Jewish Christians 
wanted one time, and the Gentile Christians, another. 
For years and years it was not settled. Finally, the 
Eoman Catholic Church decided in favor of the 
Gentiles, who chose the day we now celebrate as 
Easter. And it really depends on the sun and the 
moon ! ’ ’ 

^‘You don’t say so!” exclaimed Jamie, greatly 
surprised. 

^‘But Jamie, all this is only what is called the form 
side of Easter. The real, real Easter is something 
quite different.” And Jamie noticed that Helen’s 
voice had become very gentle and her lovely face, 
even lovelier still. 

Would you mind telling me the real side, too?” 
coaxed Jamie, rather timidly. 

Helen hesitated a moment. Jamie was afraid she 
was going to cry. But she only smiled and said : 


14 


THE GODDESS OF SPRING 


^‘The real side of Easter, Jamie, is to have love in 
your heart. Oh, a love so beautiful that you feel love 
for all instead of for just those who love you. I am 
trying to feel that way and I believe I do. That is 
why, Jamie dear, I am playing with you this morning 
instead of with my big playmates. For to really 
feel Easter I must love everybody and everything, 
be always kind and thoughtful, and take pleasure in 
playing with the little boys and girls as well as with 
the others.” 

‘^Oh,” exclaimed Jamie, ^‘wonT you please feel 
Easter every day!” 

‘‘That^s just it,” said Helen, ^‘when we grow to 
be more like our Lord Jesus we will feel Easter 
EVERY DAY instead of just once a year!” 

‘‘Why, Helen, I believe you know almost as much 
as my mother,” concluded Jamie, wishing to pay 
her the greatest compliment possible. 

“That’s because I’m an ‘old soul’,” returned the 
queenly Helen, descending from her throne. 


15 







♦ i 





!f 




THE GLORIOUS DREAM 







TEE GLORIOUS DREAM 


‘‘You can play, Jamie, if you will only practice. 
Even though you are such a small boy, you know 
music. ’ ’ 

“But, teacher, I do practice. I practice and prac- 
tice and practice. I feel the music inside of me, but 
when I try to play it, it is gone. ^ ’ 

“If you feel the music or hear it in your heart, 
why can’t you play it while yon listen? I don’t 
understand why you accomplish so little.” 

“I don’t either, teacher. Mother takes me to the 
concerts to help me, but oh, it just makes me feel 
like the song. It is shut tight in my heart, but I try 
hard to get it out!” 

The teacher looked gravely distressed and his keen 
disappointment made Jamie unhappy. For even 
more than the desire to play little pieces, the lad 
yearned to please his teacher. 

Jamie lingered at the piano, his legs dangling 
from the high stool, his arms crossed over the silent 
keys. 

“When I try so hard, oh why, why can’t I play?” 
he sobbed, burying his face in his arms. “The music 


17 


IN A NUTSHELL 


is in my heart, oh, I know the music is in my heart I * ' 
Tears bathed his cheeks, until finally, he grew still. 

Little by little he found himself in the center of a 
great amphitheater. It was hewn from the rock in 
the hillside, its stone seats rising tier upon tier as in 
a circus. There was no roof, and in the distance 
could be seen the sapphire sea with soft peaked hills 
beyond. The theater was filled with people; thou- 
sands and thousands of people, all talking and 
laughing. 

Presently, from the back of the stage came danc- 
ing maidens in long, white, flowing robes bordered 
in pink and blue, and fastened on the shoulders with 
golden clasps. 

The talking and laughter ceased, all was hushed, 
and in the waiting stillness the people leaned 
eagerly forward. For standing in the center of the 
stage was a radiant Youth, his arms outstretched 
and lips apart, and crowned with a wreath of wild 
olive. He wore a short, white chiton girded by a 
belt of gold, and his comely limbs were half concealed 
by strange, high shoes laced at the sides. He smiled, 
a glad rare smile, and bowed. The great audience 
cheered a welcome. They loved him; he was their 
favorite, their idol, their song-bird! Then in that 
vast place his song arose, clear, pure, triumphant, its 
wondrous tones soaring into the sky and out where 


18 


THE GLORIOUS DREAM 


the sea played. And as he sang, the maidens danced 
slowly to illustrate his song. 

Now Jamie, watching from above, fancied himself 
the Youth; for straightway he thought as the Youth 
thought, felt as the Youth felt, loved the music, 
thrilled to it, knew it and, like the Youth, was lost 
in a paradise of song. The music ended, the people 
applauded, the Youth bowed, then looked straight 
at Jamie. 0, he was the same! Jamie was the 
Youth ! — as he had lived in a life of the long ago I 

Then all was darkness. But gradually, another 
vision came. 

Pestilence had fallen on a great city. The dead 
and dying crowded the houses, the temples, the 
streets, forsaken by kinsmen and friends, for they 
had fled in terror. Hundreds of the sick lay in the 
streets, moaning, burning with fever and parched for 
water, while the few who could yet move, dragged 
themselves to the city wells to quench their thirst. 

In a temple, the center of a group of priests and 
high officials, was the Youth. On the faces of all, 
save his, was a look of fear and dread. They were 
asking the Singer to go out among the doomed 
people to try, by the charm of his wondrous voice 
to allay the disease. Gladly, joyously, the Youth 
went forth, happy in the thought that he could re- 
lieve the suffering. For long, weary hours he carried 


19 


IN A NUTSHELL 


water here, there, everywhere, and sang the loved 
melodies until he, too, fell in the street. 

His beloved mother, also yearning to help the 
people, had left her abode to bring water to the 
sufferers. Kneeling to comfort one in pain, she 
lifted his head that he might drink, and lol it was 
her son I her darling boy! 0 God! must he, too, 
die? The Youth opened his eyes and smiled a rare, 
sweet greeting. Even in his pain, happiness shone 
from his face, for he knew that his young life had 
been given to the helpless. And the mother, under- 
standing, smiled through her tears, clasped her arms 
about him, and with her kiss, the Youth expired. 

‘‘Jamie, Jamie, look at mother, please look at 
mother!^' 

Slowly the color returned to Jamie’s cheeks, and 
as slowly he opened his eyes. He was in his mother’s 
arms ; she was bending over to kiss him. He looked 
into her eyes, long and steadily. They were the 
eyes of that mother of the long ago, and he had 
been the great singer who had died among the peo- 
ple. His little heart fluttered with joy and he smiled 
and kissed this loved mother, who seemed so close 
to him now. Then he told her the glorious dream. 
Together they talked it over ; of the past and of the 
future, and in that golden hour the soul of both 
mother and child responded to the call of the 


20 


THE GLORIOUS DREAM 


Master ; to live even as He had lived, in glad service 
for others. 

‘ ‘ Then, mother, does it matter if I cannot play the 
music?” 

‘‘No, sonny, no.” 

“And, mother, you and I will serve so the dream 
will come true ? ’ ’ 

“Oh, my boy, we will serve and make the dream 
come true!^^ 


21 





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MR. AND MRS. GOBBLER 






MR. AND MRS. GOBBLER 


‘‘Gobble, gobble, gobble?’’ called a big papa tur- 
key to the mama turkeys in their group soul of the 
spirit world. 

“Gobble, gobble, gobble,” echoed the mama 
turkeys. 

“This is the day that human people call Thanks- 
giving, ’ ’ began Mr. Turkey Gobbler. 

“Gobble, gobble, gobble,” wailed the mama tur- 
keys. 

“And this is the day that they go into churches 
to thank their God for all their blessings,” continued 
Papa Turkey. “Yet they have killed turkeys, 
chickens, ducks, geese and even pigs!” 

“Gobble, gobble, gobble,” moaned the mama 
turkeys. 

“Most of all they have killed us, the papa and 
mama turkeys, and taken us from our children. 
These were left over to grow fatter and juicer. By 
next year our babies will be old enough and fat 
enough and juicy enough for these awful creatures 
to devour. Then the necks of our children will be 
chopped off as heartlessly as they chopped our own. ’ ’ 


23 


IN A NUTSHELL 


“Gobble, gobble, gobble!’’ shrieked the mama tur- 
keys, in great excitement. 

“The reason of my calling you,” resumed the 
speaker, “was to try and see if we could not help 
these human animals who murdered us.” 

Whereupon the mama turkeys shook their heads 
doubtingly. 

“Nay, shake not your heads,” warned the proud 
Mr. Turkey. “We must not blame these human 
creatures, for they are ignorant — terribly ignorant. 
WTiy, they are still chopping off each other ’s heads — 
hanging, they call it — if one of them does wrong, 
so what can we turkeys expect from them! And yet, 
they think themselves the wisest of God’s children! 
They have even forgotten their great ancestors, the 
Spartans, who were the strongest of people, didn’t 
kill animals or birds. No, these Spartans were what 
humans call vegetarians. They lived on grains and 
vegetables and fruits. So did the great Eoman ath- 
letes. Then these later human creatures wonder 
why the vegetarians beat the meat eaters in their 
big, big college contests ! 

“Why, just a short time ago a man named Eoose- 
velt — Colonel Eoosevelt — decided to go to Africa 
to kill animals. Think of it! So what did these 
human creatures do but hold prayer meetings just 
to ask God to keep this Eoosevelt-man safe from 


' 24 


MR. AND MRS. GOBBLER 


bears and lions and tigers and birds and things I 
They never cared about the poor animals, at all. No I 
Why shouldn’t the bears and lions and tigers and 
birds and things hold prayer meetings and offer 
prayers to God to be kept safe from this human 
coming to destroy them? 

‘‘So patience, patience, mother turkeys, and for- 
give them — ^poor things ! Some day they will know 
that to take a life, however small, is neither neces- 
sary nor kind. And now that we are gathered to- 
gether on this Thanksgiving killing day, let us, out 
of the fullness of our turkey-hearts, pray for our 
erring brethren.” 

‘^Gobble, gobble, gobble,” solemnly assented the 
mama turkeys, bowing their heads. 

“Dear God of Turkeyland,” prayed Mr. Gobbler, 
“let Thy light so shine on those who kill and eat us, 
that, before another year is ended, they may turn 
from their sinful and ignorant ways.” 

“Gobble, gobble, gobble,” murmured the mama 
turkeys in benediction. 


25 



jE 





THE INVISIBLE SANTA CLAUS 







THE INVISIBLE SANTA CLAUS 


‘^Oh, mother,” called Jamie, rushing into the 
house from school, Jack says there isn’t any Santa 
Claus, that Santa Claus isn’t real at all! He says 
mamas and papas tell their little children that just 
for fun, and when we all get big we find out it 
isn’t true! Mother, there really is a Santa Claus, 
isn’t there? You wouldn’t say there is one if it 
isn’t true, would you, mother?” 

‘‘Certainly I would not,” returned his mother. 
‘ ‘ J ack does not know, that is all. The truth is, Jamie 
dear, that Santa Claus is so great and glorious that 
mother has waited until you could understand about 
him. I know you believe your mother above anyone 
else, so I will tell you right now what Santa Claus 
really is. 

“Many years after Jesus, the Christ, had died. 
His followers, who had been made very happy by 
His coming among them, wished to set aside one 
day in the year in which to celebrate His birth and 
show their love and gratitude for the light He had 
brought them. As Jesus’ birthday was unknown, 
one hundred and thirty-six different days were pro- 


27 


IN A NUTSHELL 


posed. Finally one was chosen, the twenty-fifth day 
of December. This day had always been a day of 
celebration among all ancient races. It was the 
great day in the year when all the people joined in 
devotional ceremonies to the God of Nature. So 
you see, my little boy, that the day meant to those 
other ancient people the yearly birth of the sun as 
it began its journey northward after ripening the 
harvest away in the South-land. As the sun gives 
light, and Jesus, the Christ, brought Light to the 
people by His teachings, is it not beautiful that the 
people chose this for the birthday of Jesus f You 
know that He is also called the Christ, and that He 
said we must love one another. Therefore, the day 
of days when all people try to think only thoughts 
of love and kindness is Christ’s day or Christmas 
day. And when we think and feel these beautiful 
thoughts, by and by there creeps into our hearts the 
wish to give something to others, so that all may 
share in our joy. Now this is just how these people 
felt, for shortly after they had chosen the Christmas 
day, they began giving gifts. As an explanation of 
these love-presents they said the gifts came from 
the Christ- Child who, on Christmas eve, passed over 
all the houses in the land.” 

‘^This was true, but we must understand its real 
meaning. It did not mean that the great Christ came 


28 


THE INVISIBLE SANTA CLAUS 


to earth dropping presents on the housetops, but it 
did mean that Christ came knocking, knocking at 
the door of the hearts of His people and said : 

H am Love; please, may I come inU 
^‘And the people said, ‘Enter.’ ” 

“Then Christ entered their hearts, and lo! their 
hearts were so filled with love and joy that they gave 
to all around them.” 

“The next thing these people felt the need of, 
was a name for this wonderful love that came to 
them on Christmas day. So what do you think they 
did? They took from the wise Dutch people the 
word ‘Sinter Kaas,’ which means St. Nicholas, and 
made it Santa Claus. So right then and there Santa 
Claus was born. And Sauifa Claus is made of all the 
happy, joyous, generous, loving thoughts that Christ 
draws from the hearts of His followers through the 
many, many years since He first knocked there. 
Isn ’t that beautiful ? ’ ’ asked his mother. 

“Yes, mother, but why can’t we see Santa 
Claus?” questioned Jamie. 

“Since Santa Claus is made of love, he is a thought 
Santa Claus. He lives in the world of ether, so is 
invisible. That is, we cannot see him any more than 
we can see the fairies, or Christ’s angels, or Christ 
Himself. You know we cannot see Christ with our 
two physical eyes, but we can feel Him in our hearts. 


29 


IN A NUTSHELL 


Neither can we see Santa Clans, but we know when 
he comes and whispers : 

^Give, give, give, little Jamie; give, give, give, 
little Jack*/ 

^^Then you and Jack perk up your ears, run to 
look up the chimney or out of the windows, and 
finally call to your mothers : 

<< < Why, I believe I heard Santa Claus 

‘‘Of course you heard him; he had just breathed 
love into your hearts/’ 

“Oh, mother,” burst out Jamie, “how I should 
love to see him!” 

“Perhaps, some day, if you keep your thoughts 
clean and good, you will see him, for we can see only 
that which we are like. And to feel his presence at 
Christmas time we must have beautiful love in our 
hearts. And if we believe that just one of our 
thoughts makes a thought-form which lives awhile in 
the invisible world doing either harm or good, just 
think then, of the glory, and grandeur, and power of 
the great Santa Claus ! Yes, Santa Claus, who has 
been made from the pure, unselfish love-thoughts of 
some 500,000,000 people each year, for nearly 2,000 
years — is a real Santa Claus.” 

“Oh, mother, mother,” cried Jamie, “how very 
won-der-f ul ! ’ ’ 


30 


‘ SUFFER LITTLE:CHILDREN^ 






“SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN 


‘‘No, Jamie, I don’t believe in fairies. I don’t 
believe in anything I cannot see.” 

“Then, grandmother, do you believe in God?” 

“Why of course I believe in God, Jamie. What a 
question to ask your grandmother ! ’ ’ 

“But, grandmother, you said you didn’t believe 
in anything you couldn’t see, and you cannot see 
God.” 

“Jamie, I’ll have no more words with you. If 
your mother continues to teach you heathenism I 
tremble for your future. When I was a girl if a 
mother taught a little child such rubbish she’d be 
burned at the stake.” 

“I don’t think that would be kind, do you, grand- 
mother? It wouldn’t be Christian.” 

“That’s all you know about it, Jamie,” 

“But, grandmother, don’t you think it would make 
Lord Jesus and Lord Buddha and Lord Zoroaster 
feel badly?” 

“Child, how dare you name heathen gods in the 


31 


IN A NUTSHELL 


same breath with our Lord Jesus? Go to your 
mother. I dl have no more words with you. ’ ^ 

That night when mother put Jamie to bed she won- 
dered at his thoughtfulness. 

Jamie knew mother noticed, but he wouldn^t tell 
what grandmother had said. He was afraid it might 
bother mother. Anyway, what difference did it 
make? DidnT he know fairies were real? Just be- 
cause he couldnT see them, didn’t prove anything. 
He couldn’t see God either; but he knew there was a 
God. And he was sure it was awfully wicked to kill 
anybody. It wasn’t Christian. Being a Christian 
was to be as kind to others as you were to yourself 
and not to think yourself better than others because 
you worshipped Lord Jesus instead of some other 
Great Master. For there were lots of beautiful re- 
ligions in the world, he was sure: he had heard his 
mother say so. She said it didn’t make any differ- 
ence whether you were a Christian or a Buddhist or 
a Zoroastrian, just so there was love in your heart. 
Didn’t he know it was wicked to speak evil of any 
one and to keep away from a person because you 
thought him not quite so fine as you? He thought 
the fellows would call such people cads. Anyway, 
they couldn’t have much faith, he was sure. But he 
had faith — ^yes. Then if he had faith, why couldn’t 
he go to Lord Jesus and ask Him all about these 


32 


^‘SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN 


things? Why, of course he could ! He would ask the 
the fairies to help him. And he would take grand- 
mother, too. Then, perhaps, she would believe. 

Thus, J amie fell asleep. 

The soft air was like perfume and full of music. 
Jamie, holding grandmother by the hand, found him- 
self gliding through the sky, which wasnT sky at all, 
but a beautiful dream-world of wondrous colors ; oh, 
colors glowing everywhere; and flowers, too. Jamie 
wondered if they were the beauty-thoughts of the 
fairies who were floating all about him. He noticed 
that the fairies ^ talk was real music, and their smiles 
made rainbow colors which shone from their bodies 
and gave Jamie a strange new strength. They 
passed fairy cities, shadowy forests, crystal moun- 
tains, sparkling lakes, and everywhere there was 
happiness. Jamie was so joyous he wished to share 
his joy with grandmother, but she was asleep. He 
tried ever so hard to awaken her, hut somehow she 
couldn’t wake up. Just the same he continued to 
hold her hand. 

On they floated. On, on, higher and higher, the 
fairies circling round and round Jamie in their 
flight. On, on, up, beyond, above fairyland to 
where the sweet air was sweeter still; the heavenly 
music more heavenly ; the divine colors more divine. 
And there shone from each fairy-body a light, the 


33 


IN A NUTSHELL 


like of which Jamie had never seen before. These 
lights grew and grew and flooded Jamie, and pass- 
ing through his body, gave him new strength, 
greater courage, more faith, until Jamie was so 
happy it seemed as if he would burst with very joy. 

Slowly the mists opened, the sky cleared, and in 
the heavenly space a great throne was. The throne 
was made of the lights which shone from the bodies 
of those round about. In the center of this throne 
of light, stood a Person. She was robed in pure 
white raiment, her short hair white as the driven 
snow, and on her uplifted hand a heavy ring was 
worn. 

In ecstasy, Jamie leaned forward to look the 
closer. But lo! as he gazed a strange thing hap- 
pened. For the eyes were no longer her eyes; the 
hair, no longer her hair ; the raiment, no longer her 
raiment; instead — the Master stood! 

He gazed round about and in His gaze was a 
smile, and His smile was life, and the life passed 
through all, illuminating each until the light be- 
came a glow- wonder. And to Jamie the Master 
spoke with divine gentleness: 

^‘Thou hast come. My son, and it pleaseth Me. 
Thy faith hath brought thee hither, as it bringeth 
all who believeth in Me. It is well. Go thou back 
into the world and lead the life, and leading the life 


34 


‘‘SUFFEE LITTLE CHILDEEN’’ 


serve Me, and serving Me then shall learn of Me 
and be one in Me, even as I am one with the Father. ’ ’ 
Jamie awakened. How well he felt, and strong! 
How bright the snn, how light his heart! He sang 
all his little songs while dressing, so very, very 
happy was he. He tried to remember his dreams, 
but he conld not. Jnst the same he knew something 
great must have happened, for the love-fairies 
flooded his heart! 

As he entered the breakfast room and took his 
place at the table, the family seemed to feel a cer- 
tain rare joy and illumination which shone from 
his young face. It made grandmother sit straighter 
in her chair and uncle more patient than usual. 
And when his uncle asked the blessing, Jamie 
thought he never prayed so well before, and, en- 
couraged by this new gentleness, asked : 

^‘Please, uncle, may I say my little prayer, too?^^ 
‘^Why, certainly, my boy, certainly.” 

So grandmother and uncle and auntie and mother, 
too, bowed their heads. Jamie, raising his child- 
face to the morning sunshine, said: 

‘ ^ I send my love to the mineral, the vegetable, the 
animal, the human kingdoms. I love all and I hope 
all love me. I forgive all and I hope all forgive me. 
I send my love to the north, to the south, to the east, 
to the west. May I do well this day.” 


35 


IN A NUTSHELL 


And grandmother, with tears in her eyes but a 
new found joy in her heart, murmured: ‘‘ ‘And a 
little child shall lead them/ Amen/’ 


36 


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